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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Three-dimensional Quantification of Intestinal Mucus Using Whole-mount Tissue Imaging

Three-dimensional Quantification of Intestinal Mucus Using Whole-mount Tissue Imaging

Published on: September 12, 2025

Mucin dynamics in intestinal bacterial infection.

Sara K Lindén¹, Timothy H J Florin, Michael A McGuckin

¹Mucosal Diseases Program, Mater Medical Research Institute, Mater Health Services, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

|December 18, 2008

Summary

Intestinal mucins, like Muc2, limit bacterial access. During infection, cell-surface mucin Muc1 increases, while others decrease, indicating major changes in the gut barrier response.

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Immunology
Gastroenterology

Background:

Bacterial gastroenteritis is a significant global health issue.
Citrobacter rodentium infection in mice serves as a model for human enteropathogenic E. coli.
Mucin glycoproteins form the primary physical barrier in the intestinal tract.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the expression of various mucins in the mouse intestine during Citrobacter rodentium infection.
To understand the role of mucins in host defense against bacterial gastroenteritis.

Main Methods:

Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze mucin expression (Alcian blue/PAS, Muc1, Muc2, Muc4, Muc5AC, Muc13, Muc3/17) in healthy and infected mice.
In vitro binding assays were performed to assess the interaction between C. rodentium and Muc2.

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Bacterial load and localization were examined in vivo.

Main Results:

C. rodentium infection led to colitis and systemic infection in mice by day 12.
C. rodentium bound to Muc2 in vitro, and bacteria were found within secreted Muc2 in vivo, suggesting mucins limit epithelial access.
While most mucins remained unchanged in the small intestine, cecum, and proximal colon, distal colonic epithelium showed decreased secreted and cell-surface mucins, except for an increase in Muc1.
Human infections (Salmonella St Paul, Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium difficile) also induced MUC1 in the colon.

Conclusions:

Intestinal infection triggers significant alterations in both cell-surface and secreted mucins.
Mucins play a crucial role in the host's innate immune response to bacterial gastroenteritis.